After years of speculation, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War IV has finally been unveiled. Publisher Deep Silver and developer KING Art Games revealed the long-awaited RTS during Gamescom’s Opening Night Live on August 19, 2025, with a cinematic CGI trailer setting the stage for its return.
The game revisits the war-torn planet of Kronus, roughly 200 years after the events of Dawn of War: Dark Crusade. Narrated through the perspective of Captain Cyrus of the Blood Ravens 10th Company, the reveal trailer introduces the four playable factions: Space Marines (Blood Ravens), Orks, Necrons, and the Adeptus Mechanicus. Familiar faces, including Jonah and Gorgutz, also return to the battlefield.
Back to RTS Roots
Dawn of War IV marks a return to the series’ foundational mechanics—base-building, resource gathering, and commanding large armies—while layering in new systems and modern design. Players can expect both ranged and melee clashes at massive scale, with the new Combat Director promising more visceral, cinematic engagements.
Key features highlighted by Deep Silver and KING Art Games
- Four distinct factions, each with its own dedicated campaign, adding up to more than 70 missions.
- Multiple modes including solo campaigns, skirmish, co-op, competitive multiplayer, and the fan-favorite Last Stand.
- Cinematic storytelling, co-written by Black Library author John French, with around 40 minutes of CGI cutscenes and non-linear campaign paths.
- Biggest launch for the series yet, featuring 10+ commanders, over 110 units and buildings, customization options, and in-game modding tools including an editor and painter system.
- Classic RTS mechanics with new twists, combining traditional strategic gameplay with modern innovations like enhanced melee combat direction.
A Familiar World, Expanded
The narrative takes place on Kronus, a planet central to the franchise’s lore, ensuring continuity for long-time fans while broadening the scale for newcomers. Each faction’s campaign offers a unique lens on the ongoing conflict, providing multiple perspectives on the grimdark setting.
What Comes Next
The publishers position Dawn of War IV as both a continuation and a reset—bigger in scope, deeper in campaign content, and designed to embrace the genre’s roots.
The “RTS king,” as the press release calls it, is set to return with the largest launch package in franchise history. No release window beyond the reveal has yet been confirmed.
